Changing Lifestyles post 2020: What is Co-Housing?

For some it is hard to see that the subtle changes we continue to make as humans have such a drastic impact on our lives. It’s easier to understand how a major world event like a medical pandemic can completely upend how we work and live. As more people are working from home and thus not so tethered to the city in which they work, businesses have had to adapt and so will the housing industry. However, prior to the pandemic the world was already shifting their priorities away from “traditional live/work situations”.

The environment was ripe for a change. Many, first time home buyers were finding it impossible to enter the real estate market in the over-priced cities where they worked. The cost of living in most of those large cities is incongruous to the salaries they offer. A changing human mindset of the post baby-boomer generations has also altered how we view housing goals. There is less emphasis on acquiring possessions and more on life experiences. For younger generations sustainability outweighs materialism and community living counters the cool distancing high tech delivers.

Older generations wanted to downsize but stay in their suburban neighborhoods while others were looking for a community that provided increasing help as needed.

So in order to find affordable housing that is ecological designed and convenient we’ve had to get creative and in that vein the alternative housing boom erupted. We started seeing tiny houses, revamped school buses and RVs become permanent homes, and treehouses, glamping and pre-fab homes become viable options. The pandemic only accelerated their natural evolutionary arc. There has also been a re-emergence of the commune – or as it is now called “intentional living”. Sharing living quarters are not only cost efficient they can also provide a community of like-minded individuals of any age. Now people who once may have never considered co-housing are looking at the benefits more closely.

Co-Housing

Co-housing is a type of intentional, collaborative housing in which residents actively participate in the design, operation, and management of their neighborhoods. It is composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities.

Co-housing has been around in one form or another since the beginning of time. From multi-generational cave dwellings to communes. Humans are social animals and are actually in their most natural environment grouped together. Thus, the re-emergence of co-housing has been predictable and instinctual. However, there are different types of co-housing options so you want to make sure you have the vocabulary right

Communes:

A commune is an intentional community of people sharing living spaces, interests, values, beliefs, and often property, possessions, and resources in common. Everybody owns everything and nothing. A little bit like a cult but you’re free to come and go.

Ecovillages

An Ecovillage is an intentional community based around a shared goal to become more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Commune-esque but your free to believe whatever you want as long as you love trees.

Collaborative Communities

A collaborative community, is like Cohousing, without the housing. These residents also actively participate in the design, operation, and management of their community however they all have their own abodes, (and lives) in one form or another.

Pocket/Cottage Neighborhoods

A pocket neighborhood is a grouping of smaller residences, often around a courtyard or common garden, designed to promote a close-knit sense of community. It’s a Collaborative Community of friends who like to hang out together.

Pod Living

A hostel-like living experience that defines your personal space as a nook in a larger room of other nooks – and residents. Basically, a dorm room with clever design to achieve some small amount of privacy.

Assisted Living

New-fangled way to say “retirement home” although the focus is more on helping residents with basic tasks if needed while they enjoy all the amenities of a normal life.

Could you live in any of these situations? Read my next blog post about a new co-housing project.